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How to save money during the E-ZPass border war

Updated on August 29, 2017 at 4:53 PMPosted on August 29, 2017 at 8:37 AM

A bill sponsored by a New Jersey law maker would ask New York and New Jersey toll agencies to restore E-Z Pass discount to drivers from both states when they use out-of-state toll roads and river crossings. (Larry Higgs | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

A bill sponsored by a New Jersey law maker would ask New York and New Jersey toll agencies to restore E-Z Pass discount to drivers from both states when they use out-of-state toll roads and river crossings. (Larry Higgs | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

New Jersey drivers took the worst beating out of any other state between 2012 and 2016, with 70 million people charged the cash rate at MTA crossings out of 92 million out-of-towners who weren't given the discount, AAA said.

In fairness to the MTA, the NJ Turnpike Authority did something similar in 2011 when it ended giving the E-ZPass discount to out-of-staters. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey gives a discount to all E-ZPass customers, regardless of which state issued their tag.

Q: If I travel in the Tri-State area and want to be guaranteed E-ZPass discounts everywhere, should I have two separate E-ZPasses?

In the legislation, which has bipartisan support from five other lawmakers, Rooney cited the findings of AAA study and the interconnected nature of both states economies and transportation systems as reasons for providing the toll discount in both states.

The concept isn't new. Toll agencies from both states extended discounts to drivers from neighboring states when customers were being encouraged to sign-up for E-ZPass when it started.

The bill was introduced on Aug. 24 and is in the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee. So until that bill becomes law and the two agencies come to an agreement, the best advice is to use the E-ZPass that provides the biggest discount.